SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (KY3) – Tensions between the United States and Russia have been a constant in American life since the final days of World War II. Tonight we’re looking at the Cold War-era Marshall Plan, which celebrated its 76th anniversary this year. After the war, the United States feared Russia was trying to take over the world. The United States already had the Truman Doctrine, which provided aid to countries threatened by power in the East.

Meanwhile, Missouri President Harry S. Truman wanted to accelerate the economic recovery in Europe.

“Certainly the fight against communism was the real catalyst for some of this,” explained Mark Adams, curator of the Truman Museum. “But when George Marshall came back from Europe, he saw the destruction in the major cities of Europe and he reported it to Truman. And then the wheels started turning to rebuild Europe, but also to restore cooperation between these countries.”

A look at whether the Marshall Plan made a difference, whether we treated European countries equally and the lessons for modern times in the video.

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